Two recent polls show that a majority of Americans support the position of President George W. Bush and oppose the position of presidential candidate John Kerry on the question of whether federal funds should be used for the kind of embryonic stem cell research that kills human embryos. They also show strong opposition to human cloning for either reproductive or research purposes.
The first was conducted by Wilson Research Strategies, Inc. The company polled 1,000 adults between August 16 and August 18. (The margin of error was 3.1%.)
People were asked,
"Do you support or oppose using tax dollars to pay for the kind of stem cell research that requires the killing of human embryos?
1. Support 38%
2. Oppose 53%
3. Don't know/refused 9%
They were also asked,
"Do you support or oppose using tax dollar to pay for the kind of stem cell research that does not require the killing of human embryos?"
1. Support 74%
2. Oppose 20%
3. Don't know/refused 6%
In addition, respondents were queried,
"Which of the following comes closest to your view?"
1. Cloning to create human embryos for stem cell research
which would kill them should be allowed and only cloning
for reproduction should be banned: 24%
2. All human cloning should be banned: 69%
3. Don't know / refused: 7%
International Communications Research conducted a survey commissioned by the Pro-Life Secretariat of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The poll was a weighted sample of 1,001 adults, and was conducted August 13-17. (The margin of error was 3%.)
Respondents were asked, "Should scientists be allowed to use human cloning to create a supply of human embryos to be destroyed in medical research?"
Yes: 13.3%
No: 79.8%
Don't know: 6.1%
Refused: 0.7%